Image credit – PDRM Pulau Pinang
Using CCTV to try and identify suspects and also get a timeline of what happened isn’t exactly new. However the only problem with CCTV is that the people inside the video have to be identified manually, which in some cases can be difficult due to the low resolution of some CCTV systems.
However over in Malaysia, to be more specific in the state of Penang, authorities have introduced a facial recognition CCTV system which is apparently the first of its kind in the country. The system will use 767 cameras on Penang island, while an additional 130 will be used as Seberang Perai. There are also plans to deploy an additional 150 and 94 cameras in both parts of the state respectively.
According to the state’s Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, he claims that they will need about 3,000 cameras before the system can be fully taken advantage of. The project is estimated to cost about $2.9 million and is expected to be fully completed in 2020. Malaysia is not alone in deploying facial recognition systems.
We’ve seen how various countries around the world are utilizing the technology at airports. Some countries, such as China, are also using it for internal security and policing purposes, where these systems have been successful in identifying wanted suspects. They have also equipped police officers with smart glasses with similar capabilities.